Seven Songs for the iPad

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Still haven't found what you're looking for on the Apple tablet? Try a little musical therapy.

By Brian Linder

On Wednesday, Apple unveiled their epically-anticipated slate computer, the iPad. We've been looking forward to the mythical Mac tablet just like everyone else. And as the rest of you undoubtedly are, we're now attempting to process our reaction to the device. What better way to do this, we thought, than through the power of music?

Are you struggling to understand your feelings about what you've seen? Have you been sad about the lack of potential for augmented reality apps? Or maybe it was love at first sight and you can't wait to get your hands on one. We're here to help.

Ladies and gentleman, we give you the latest installment in our "seven songs" series... Seven Songs for the iPad. Have other musical selections for the finally-revealed Unicorn Tablet? Leave them in the comments...

"Bargain" - The Who The Reason:Oh, iPad... "I'd pay any price just to get you. I'd work all my life and I will. I'd call it a bargain. The best I ever had." That sentiment, courtesy of legendary English rockers The Who, may be true amongst the most devoted members of the Apple cult; we're happy to report, however, that the new tablet truly is a bargain. The iPad can be had for just $499 -- that's for the stripped down model. The top of the line version will cost you $829. With 3G and 64GB we'd still call that a bargain.

"I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" - U2 The Reason: We've run. We've crawled. We've scaled these city walls. We've seen Apple's supposed "best way to experience the web, email, and photos," but like Bono and boys from Dublin, we still haven't found what we're looking for. No camera. No Flash support. No multitasking. Did we mention no freaking camera? We like the iPad, but the lack of these features is a disappointment.

"I Want You To Want Me" - Cheap Trick The Reason: "I waaant you to want me. I neeeed you to need me. I'd looove you to love me!" Just like the guy in the Cheap Trick song, Apple is trying too hard. It's "extraordinary." It's "unbelievably great." It's "incredible." It's... wait for it... "magical!" If we had a dollar for every superlatives Steve Jobs uttered during the iPad presentation we almost afford the high-end model. The iPad may indeed be all those things, but eschewing seemingly empty platitudes is marketing 101.

"Shattered" - The Rolling Stones The Reason: Sure, this '70s masterpiece by Jagger and Co. could be viewed as a bit of social commentary on "pride and joy and greed and sex," but we like our own hyper-literal interpretation. What's going to happen to that beautiful 9.7-inch, LED-backlit IPS display the first time you fumble it walking down the street? That's right..."Ahhh, look at me -- I'm shattered!" Hope you bought the AppleCare protection plan.

"The Touch" - Stan Bush The Reason: What better theme for iPad's revolutionary multi-touch interface technology than "The Touch," Stan Bush's signature inclusion on the soundtrack to 1986's Transformers: The Movie. "It's a phenomenal experience," Jobs claimed at Wednesday's unveiling. And whether you're zooming around a map, flicking and pinching photos, or zipping through the web with the simple swipe of your finger, we're certain the iPad will make you feel like "You got the touch! You got the power!"

"On To The Next One" - Jay-Z The Reason: "Somebody bring me back some money, please!" And just like Jay-Z, Apple's got "a million ways to get it." With revenues of $15.7 billion last quarter and a hot product ensemble for which sales continue to climb, what's it to Apple if people don't snatch up the iPad in droves? They'll just continue doing what they do; innovating, pushing the envelope of computer product design, and being the driving force of "cool" in the tech marketplace. If consumers would rather stick with their netbooks and Kindles, it's their loss. "On to the next one!"

"Don't Stop Believin'" - Journey The Reason: "Some will win, some will lose. Some were born to sing the blues." Maybe you're an Apple fanboy/fangirl "living just to find emotion." You wanted so much to find love at first sight with the iPad, but maybe the spark just wasn't there. You know what though? There'll be another chance. "Don't stop believin'! Hold on to the feelin'!" Keep your chin up. "Streetlights! People!" Huh?